LogFAQs > #957177005

#47: Dragon of the Darkness Flame
Nominator: @AquaArcane (0/1 remaining)
Character: Hiei
Source Material: Yu Yu Hakusho

Scores:
Aesthetics: 5
Dominance: 6
Damn: 4
Total Score: 15/30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cYTTC4YorM

Looking back, I was absolutely wrong on this one. It deserves to be higher; despite the trappings of 90s anime weighing it down, when I compare this to Giga Slave only two ranks ago, it's leaps and bounds greater in quality, and in all aspects. I'm only letting myself cheat on one nomination, though, so it will have to stay down here where it doesn't belong.

While the "wind-up" dialogue still goes on way too long, it's at least the kind of boasting that supports what's about to happen, and the scene implies part of the reason his opponent doesn't just get out of the way is "overexertion on his own failed finisher" as opposed to the default "sheer stupidity." I think the moment that sells this well is that freeze frame at 2:07. It heightens the anticipation that had been building up since it began to draw power from sky and sea.

All right, that's enough gushing. Even with my errors, this move is far from perfect. The destructive capability of the unleashed attack is woefully lacking; the buildup had the sky crack, the sea churn, and rocks crumble, but the aftermath of it shows no terrain damage at all? Sure, it outright cremates his enemy, and if it were a move that emphasizes precision I could live with it. This is not a much that emphasizes precision. That hurts the suspension of disbelief quite a bit.

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E come vivo? Vivo!